Secondary Attachment for Work Vehicle

ABSTRACT

A work vehicle comprising a frame supported by a ground engaging device. A boom assembly is coupled to the frame. A boom cylinder is coupled to the frame and the boom assembly. An attachment coupler is coupled to a distal portion of the boom assembly. At least one tilt cylinder is coupled to the boom assembly and the attachment coupler. A primary attachment is coupled to the attachment coupler. A secondary attachment is coupled to the primary attachment. The secondary attachment comprises a stand configured to move between a standing mode and a stored mode, wherein the stand automatically moves to the standing mode when it is decoupled from the primary attachment.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure generally relates to work vehicles, such as skid steers, compact track loaders, and more particularly to a secondary attachment for a work vehicle.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

In order to attach a secondary attachment to a work vehicle, an operator commonly has to exit the work vehicle to complete the attachment.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

In one embodiment, a work vehicle is disclosed. The work vehicle comprises a frame. At least one ground engaging device is coupled to the frame and configured to support the frame above a surface. A boom assembly is coupled to the frame. At least one boom cylinder is coupled to the frame and the boom assembly and configured to move the boom assembly. An attachment coupler is coupled to a distal portion of the boom assembly. At least one tilt cylinder is coupled to the boom assembly and the attachment coupler and configured to move the attachment coupler. A primary attachment is coupled to the attachment coupler. A secondary attachment is coupled to the primary attachment. The secondary attachment comprises a stand configured to move between a standing mode and a stored mode, wherein the stand automatically moves to the standing mode when it is decoupled from the primary attachment.

In another embodiment, a compact track loader is disclosed. The compact track loader comprises a frame. At least one ground engaging device is coupled to the frame and configured to support the frame above a surface. A boom assembly is coupled to the frame. At least one boom cylinder is coupled to the frame and the boom assembly and configured to move the boom assembly. An attachment coupler is coupled to a distal portion of the boom assembly. At least one tilt cylinder is coupled to the boom assembly and the attachment coupler and configured to move the attachment coupler. A primary attachment is coupled to the attachment coupler. A secondary attachment is coupled to the primary attachment. The secondary attachment comprises a stand configured to move between a standing mode and a stored mode, wherein the stand automatically moves to the standing mode when it is decoupled from the primary attachment.

In yet another embodiment, a work vehicle is disclosed. The work vehicle comprises a frame. At least one ground engaging device is coupled to the frame and configured to support the frame above a surface. A boom assembly is coupled to the frame. At least one boom cylinder is coupled to the frame and the boom assembly and configured to move the boom assembly. An attachment coupler is coupled to a distal portion of the boom assembly. At least one tilt cylinder is coupled to the boom assembly and the attachment coupler and configured to move the attachment coupler. A primary attachment is coupled to the attachment coupler. A secondary attachment is coupled to the primary attachment. The secondary attachment comprises a stand configured to move between a standing mode and a stored mode, wherein the stand automatically moves to the standing mode when it is decoupled from the primary attachment. The work vehicle further comprises a receiver coupled to one of the primary attachment and the secondary attachment and a pin coupled to the other of the primary attachment and the secondary attachment. The receiver is configured to couple to the pin and decouple from the pin in the standing mode. Wherein, the stand comprises a center of gravity positioned to move the secondary attachment to the standing mode when a top of the primary attachment is positioned closer to the surface than where the top is positioned when the stand is in the stored mode.

Other features and aspects will become apparent by consideration of the detailed description and accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a work vehicle with a secondary attachment.

FIG. 2 is a zoomed in partial side view of the work vehicle of FIG. 1 .

FIG. 3 is a zoomed in partial side view of the work vehicle of FIG. 1 .

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the secondary attachment of FIG. 1 .

FIG. 5 is a zoomed in partial perspective view of the work vehicle of FIG. 1 .

Before any embodiments are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the disclosure is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. The disclosure is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Further embodiments of the invention may include any combination of features from one or more dependent claims, and such features may be incorporated, collectively or separately, into any independent claim.

As used herein, unless otherwise limited or modified, lists with elements that are separated by conjunctive terms (e.g., “and”) and that are also preceded by the phrase “at least one of” or “one or more of” indicate configurations or arrangements that potentially include individual elements of the list, or any combination thereof. For example, “at least one of A, B, and C” or “one or more of A, B, and C” indicates the possibilities of only A, only B, only C, or any combination of two or more of A, B, and C (e.g., A and B; B and C; A and C; or A, B, and C).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 illustrates a work vehicle 10 having a frame 15. The work vehicle 10 is illustrated as a compact track loader 20. Other types of work vehicles 10 are contemplated by this disclosure including skid steers and bulldozers, for example. At least one ground engaging device 25 is coupled to the frame 15 and configured to support the frame 15 above a surface 30 and to move the work vehicle 10 along the surface 30. The illustrated ground engaging device 25 is a pair of tracks 35. Alternatively, the ground engaging device 25 may be wheels (not shown).

An operator's station 40 is coupled to the frame 15. The operator's station 40 may have a door 42.

A boom assembly 45 is coupled to the frame 15. The boom assembly 45 comprises a pair of upper links 50 that are coupled to the frame 15. A pair of lower links 55 are coupled to the frame 15. A pair of boom cylinders 60 are coupled to the frame 15 with one per side of the work vehicle 10. The boom cylinders 60 may be hydraulic actuators 65 or electronic actuators 70. A pair of boom arms 75 are coupled to the upper links 50 and the lower links 55 and positioned one per side of the work vehicle 10. The pair of boom arms 75 are coupled to the boom cylinders 60. The boom cylinders 60 are configured to move the boom assembly 45.

An attachment coupler 80 is coupled to a distal portion 85 of the boom assembly 45. At least one tilt cylinder 90 is coupled to the boom assembly 45 and the attachment coupler 80 and configured to move the attachment coupler 80. The tilt cylinder 90 may be a hydraulic actuator 95 or an electronic actuator 100. The tilt cylinder 90 has a fully extended position 105 (FIG. 2 ) and a fully retracted position 110 (FIG. 3 ).

A primary attachment 115 is coupled to the attachment coupler 80. The primary attachment 115 comprises a top 120. The primary attachment 115 may comprise a dozer blade 125 or other attachment.

A secondary attachment 130 is coupled to the primary attachment 115. With reference to FIG. 4 , the secondary attachment 130 may comprise a scarifier 135, a box blade (not shown), or other attachment.

Referring to FIG. 5 , a receiver 140 is coupled to one of the primary attachment 115 or the secondary attachment 130. The receiver 140 may be a pocket or other type of receiving portion. A pin 145 is coupled to the other of the primary attachment 115 or the secondary attachment 130. The pin 145 may be other structure that can be received by the receiver 140 such as a fastener (e.g., bolt). The receiver 140 is configured to couple to the pin 145. The receiver 140 is further configured to decouple from the pin 145 when the secondary attachment 130 is positioned in a standing mode 150 (FIG. 4 ) or when the top 120 of the primary attachment 115 is positioned towards the surface 30 as shown in FIG. 2 when the tilt cylinder 90 is close to or in the fully extended position 105.

With reference to FIG. 4 , the secondary attachment 130 may comprise a stand 155 configured to move between the standing mode 150 and a stored mode 160 (FIG. 1 ). The stand 155 may automatically move to the standing mode 150 when the secondary attachment 130 is decoupled from the primary attachment 115. Advantageously, this allows an operator of the work vehicle 10 to remain in the operator's station 40 when coupling and/or decoupling the secondary attachment 130 to/from the primary attachment 115 because the operator can couple or decouple the secondary attachment 130 by actuating the tilt cylinder 90. The stand 155 comprises a center of gravity 165 positioned to automatically move the secondary attachment 130 to the standing mode 150 when the top 120 of the primary attachment 115 is positioned towards the surface 30 or when the top 120 of the primary attachment 115 is positioned closer to the surface 30 than where the top 120 is positioned when the stand 155 is in the stored mode 160. In the stored mode 160 the stand 155 contacts the primary attachment 115. The stand 155 may comprise at least two legs 167 where each leg 167 may be coupled to the secondary attachment 130 via a pin joint 170. A stop 175 may be coupled to the stand 155. The stop 175 may be configured to limit movement of the stand 155 when moving from the stored mode 160 to the standing mode 150. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A work vehicle comprising: a frame; at least one ground engaging device coupled to the frame and configured to support the frame above a surface; a boom assembly coupled to the frame; at least one boom cylinder coupled to the frame and the boom assembly and configured to move the boom assembly; an attachment coupler coupled to a distal portion of the boom assembly; at least one tilt cylinder coupled to the boom assembly and the attachment coupler and configured to move the attachment coupler; a primary attachment coupled to the attachment coupler; and a secondary attachment coupled to the primary attachment, the secondary attachment comprising a stand configured to move between a standing mode and a stored mode, wherein the stand automatically moves to the standing mode when it is decoupled from the primary attachment.
 2. The work vehicle of claim 1, further comprising a receiver coupled to one of the primary attachment and the secondary attachment and a pin coupled to the other of the primary attachment and the secondary attachment, the receiver configured to couple to the pin, the receiver further configured to decouple from the pin in the standing mode.
 3. The work vehicle of claim 2, wherein the pin is decoupled from the receiver when a top of the primary attachment is positioned towards the surface.
 4. The work vehicle of claim 1, wherein the secondary attachment comprises a scarifier.
 5. The work vehicle of claim 1, wherein the primary attachment comprises a dozer blade.
 6. The work vehicle of claim 1, wherein the stand comprises a center of gravity positioned to move the secondary attachment to the standing mode when a top of the primary attachment is positioned towards the surface.
 7. The work vehicle of claim 1, wherein the stand comprises a center of gravity positioned to move the secondary attachment to the standing mode when a top of the primary attachment is positioned closer to the surface than where the top is positioned when the stand is in the stored mode.
 8. The work vehicle of claim 1, wherein in the stored mode the stand contacts the primary attachment.
 9. The work vehicle of claim 1, wherein the stand comprises at least two legs and each leg is coupled to the secondary attachment via a pin joint.
 10. The work vehicle of claim 1, further comprising a stop coupled to the stand, the stop configured to limit movement of the stand when moving from the stored mode to the standing mode.
 11. The work vehicle of claim 1, wherein the work vehicle comprises a compact track loader.
 12. A compact track loader comprising: a frame; at least one ground engaging device coupled to the frame and configured to support the frame above a surface; a boom assembly coupled to the frame; at least one boom cylinder coupled to the frame and the boom assembly and configured to move the boom assembly; an attachment coupler coupled to a distal portion of the boom assembly; at least one tilt cylinder coupled to the boom assembly and the attachment coupler and configured to move the attachment coupler; a primary attachment coupled to the attachment coupler; and a secondary attachment coupled to the primary attachment, the secondary attachment comprising a stand configured to move between a standing mode and a stored mode, wherein the stand automatically moves to the standing mode when it is decoupled from the primary attachment.
 13. The compact track loader of claim 12, further comprising a receiver coupled to one of the primary attachment and the secondary attachment and a pin coupled to the other of the primary attachment and the secondary attachment, the receiver configured to couple to the pin, the receiver further configured to decouple from the pin in the standing mode.
 14. The compact track loader of claim 13, wherein the pin is decoupled from the receiver when a top of the primary attachment is positioned towards the surface.
 15. The compact track loader of claim 12, wherein the secondary attachment comprises a scarifier.
 16. The compact track loader of claim 12, wherein the primary attachment comprises a dozer blade.
 17. The compact track loader of claim 12, wherein the stand comprises a center of gravity positioned to move the secondary attachment to the standing mode when a top of the primary attachment is positioned towards the surface.
 18. The compact track loader of claim 12, wherein the stand comprises a center of gravity positioned to move the secondary attachment to the standing mode when a top of the primary attachment is positioned closer to the surface than where the top is positioned when the stand is in the stored mode.
 19. The compact track loader of claim 12, further comprising a stop coupled to the stand, the stop configured to limit movement of the stand when moving from the stored mode to the standing mode.
 20. A work vehicle comprising: a frame; at least one ground engaging device coupled to the frame and configured to support the frame above a surface; a boom assembly coupled to the frame; at least one boom cylinder coupled to the frame and the boom assembly and configured to move the boom assembly; an attachment coupler coupled to a distal portion of the boom assembly; at least one tilt cylinder coupled to the boom assembly and the attachment coupler and configured to move the attachment coupler; a primary attachment coupled to the attachment coupler; and a secondary attachment coupled to the primary attachment, the secondary attachment comprising a stand configured to move between a standing mode and a stored mode, wherein the stand automatically moves to the standing mode when it is decoupled from the primary attachment; the work vehicle further comprising a receiver coupled to one of the primary attachment and the secondary attachment and a pin coupled to the other of the primary attachment and the secondary attachment, the receiver configured to couple to the pin, the receiver further configured to decouple from the pin in the standing mode, wherein the stand comprises a center of gravity positioned to move the secondary attachment to the standing mode when a top of the primary attachment is positioned closer to the surface than where the top is positioned when the stand is in the stored mode. 